I. British-supporting Slaves
-would of been freed in Jefferson's original Declaration of Independence
A. Southern Slaves
-1775, Lord Dunmore of Virginia calls on slaves to leave masters and fight for Britain
-over 800 slaves report
-defeated by colonists in 1776
-most die of smallpox
-several thousand slave join General Clinton's southern army
B. Entire Colonies
-over 20,000 African Americans fight for British
-most of which are slaves
C. Motives
-freedom granted by British officials and government
-slaves fighting for Dunmore wore "Liberty to Slaves" sashes
-bounties or monetary compensation for fighting
II. American-supporting slaves
A. Southern Slaves
-colonists forced to recruit slaves in south
-in response to Dunmore's proclamation
-mainly Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina
-fighting slaves are rarely granted freedom
-would be dangerous with slave to owner ratio so high
B. Northern Slaves
-already long recruiting slaves for army
-led by New England and Rhode Island
-fighting slaves often granted freedom
C. Entire colonies
-about 5,000 African Americans fight for America
-usually non-combat positions (teamsters)
D. Motives
-granted freedom
-sent to fight by master
-belief in the American cause
III. Impact on the Revolution
-British supported slave revolts on southern plantations
-American weakness
-example of slaves fighting for same freedoms as colonists
-grants some former slaves their freedom
-military value for America and Britain
BH and DE
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5 comments:
I think the slaves had a better chance of being freed with the British than the colonists. The colonists would have used them in the armies, and then place them back on the plantations, but the British may have taken them back to Britian, were they may be free. The colonists, though, did free some of the slaves.
I think it is a good thing that slaves fought in the war. It gave many an opportunity to become free men. In the end though, it wasn't the greatest because they lost the war. The slave’s impact on the war seemed to maybe add anti-slavery opinions in America. Whether or not this is the case Thomas Jefferson definitely set the precedent early.
I feel that the slaves descsion to fight in the war probably lead to increased tension in the southern regions. Since a majority of the slave rebellions happened in the south and the fighting was the most brutal there, i feel that the hatred would logically fall into the southern hands. While slavery is a bad thing, it could have probably been over a lot sooner if the slaves had sided with the americans and not the British.
Slavery is the one Sticking point I have with America having the Moral high ground in the revolution. Sure, we did set up a country, that would go on to be one of the most free and accepting in the world, but at the time, Don't you see the irony in fighting for freedom while simultaneously oppressing millions more?
First of all, go Jefferson for supporting the slaves. If so many slaves fought in the war on both sides it showed they could do what all other men could do, and they fought harder for their rights. I think we should acknowledge that a lot of them did receive their freedom and liberty, which is a big step on breaking the precedent of the past.
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